Wireless indoor communications using antenna arrays

Abstract

A wireless communication system and method includes antenna arrays at both the transmitter and receiver having a plurality of elements for very high data rate communication. Phased array antennas or directive fixed beam antennas are used with a beamwidth in azimuth and elevation less than 30° to increase the power margin and to decrease the delay spread of signals at the receiver to permit wireless data communications at high data rates in closed environments, for example, bursty transmissions and isochronous communications. The wireless communication system is capable of data transmission rates which exceed 1 Gbps with propagation losses of up to at least 60 dB relative to one meter.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This disclosure relates to wireless communication systems, and in particular to a wireless communication system including antenna arrays at both the transmitter and receiver for very high data rate communication.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]The use of wireless transmission techniques for data and voice communications within closed environments, for example, office buildings, frees users from the necessity of installing cables, bridges, routers, hubs, etc. which interconnect the various data and voice communication equipment. In addition, the elimination of interconnecting cables increases the flexibility of the equipment by facilitating changes in existing equipment configurations, as well as the addition of new equipment without the costly rewiring expenses. However, indoor wireless communications at very high data rates, for example, rates in excess of 10 Megabit per second (Mbps) up to multi-Gigabit p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]A wireless communication system and method including antenna arrays at both the transmitter and receiver are disclosed for very high data rate communication. In an illustrative embodiment, phased array antennas or directive fixed beam antennas are used with a beamwidth in azimuth and elevation of less than 30° to increase the power margin and to decrease the delay spread of signals at the receiver to permit wireless data communications at high data rates in closed environments including between rooms, for example, bursty transmissions and isochronous communications. The illustrative embodiment is capable of data transmission rates which exceed 1 Gbps with propagation losses up to at least 60 dB relative to one meter.

Problems solved by technology

However, indoor wireless communications at very high data rates, for example, rates in excess of 10 Megabit per second (Mbps) up to multi-Gigabit per second (Gbps), present technical obstacles affecting the signal integrity.

Such indoor communications techniques do not overcome the signal power margin and multipath delay spread phenomena encountered at data rates of tens of Mbps to data rates in excess of 1 Gbps.

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